The first Mistletoe and Holly Auction of 2005 was held today – in the usual place in Tenbury. But this site is still due to be developed – so this really might be the last year here. Well-attended, lots of well-berried mistletoe – the holly doesn’t look so good – not many berries this year. And Christmas tress seemed to be in short supply – but is a bit early. Next week (6th December) will […]

Some pictures from the Grand Mistletoe Ball… for those who are really interested there’ll be more on these on the Ball webpage soon. Mistletoe place-settings. Dinner… Caption competition – what are Reg and Jen talking about?? “Lady Ponsonby” announces the imminent arrival of “Queen Victoria”… …though she first insists on demonstrating the correct use of mistletoe. Queen Victoria entertains… And there is even some dancing… Mistletoe Adventures, beginning with Christmas 2005 but extending well into […]

“This weekend sees the start of 10 days of mistletoe celebrations in Tenbury Wells, Britain’s “mistletoe capital” and the centre of the UK trade. There’s today’s Grand Mistletoe Ball, the first of the traditional mistletoe and holly wholesale auctions (November 29) and the Mistletoe Festival. Plus visits from druids of the Mistletoe Foundation.” A quote from today’s Guardian – ok, from my letter published today in the Guardian. A good letter I thought (natch), covering […]

‘Bout time I came clean on that BBC2 Christmas/cookery prog I’ve hinted at. Yes it’s Ready Steady Cook – with me – Mistletoe Expert, pitted against Stephen Reynolds – Christmas Tree Grower. Pic shows me, Anthony W-T, Lesley Waters and Ainsley Harriot all wearing our mistletoe – except Ainsley. Must have a word with him about that. Due to be broadcast on BBC2 on Friday 9th December 4.30pm. Don’t miss it! Stephen’s Christmas trees can […]

Lots more media enquiries this week – BBC2 for a new nature series, Independent on Sunday about Mistletoe rustling (yes, it happens!), Western Daily Press re the market and online sales, etc etc etc. It’s not even December yet – and there’s the Mistletoe Festival next week – which should attract a lot of media interest. So it looks like a busy mistletoe media season this year. Meanwhile, back in mistletoe country preperations for the […]

The TEME website is now offering Tenbury mistletoe online. A bit of an experiment, to see what the online market might be, and whether it could be used to develop the Tenbury Wells mistletoe trade. Do take a look, and try some… Mistletoe Adventures, beginning with Christmas 2005 but extending well into 2006… Jonathan Briggs is a mistletoe enthusiast – read about his mistletoe activities here… For more mistletoe info go to www.mistletoe.org.uk

The December monthlies are now out, and I’ve been reviewing a few to see what the mistletoe coverage is like. Period Living & Traditional Homes has a lengthy piece – pages 98 to 100 if you really want to know. Feature written by Charlotte Ewing, and pics by me (largely of previous mistletoe auctions at Tenbury Wells). The theme centres on Tenbury and covers the plans for the Mistletoe Festival etc this year. Organic Life, […]

A wonderfully cold and frosty morning, and we’re off to see the Droitwich Canal – to talk about reedbeds, conservation, habitat creation, and where to put the locks. And yes you may have read that before, sometime in last year’s blog – but these projects take time you know… Anyway, as reported before we start down at the Salwarpe/Severn confluence – where there are some classic mistletoe-bearing willows and, at Hawford, some equally classic mistletoe […]

So nice to be on the Beeb so often. Monday with BBC Radio Gloucestershire talking about canal restoration, bat boxes, fallen trees, replacement bridges and funding. Wednesday with BBC2 TV recording a Christmas-themed show… more on that later. And Thursday back with Radio Glos, this time talking about mistletoe… That’s Brian Bailey of Radio Glos in the hat. I’m the one with the mistletoe…. Mistletoe Adventures, beginning with Christmas 2005 but extending well into 2006… […]

Mistletoe dates for your diaries: The Tenbury Wells Mistletoe Festival starts on Sat 26th November with the Mistletoe Ball, followed by talks, exhibitions and concerts etc from Thursday 1st December (National Mistletoe Day). A full programme can be downloaded here, or viewed here. And then there are the mistletoe auctions – on 29th Nov, 6th Dec and 13th Dec. These are also detailed in the links above – and are organised by Nick Champion. Mistletoe […]